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The Best Fitness Trackers of 2016

Justin Thomas — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 14:38:32 +0000

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The Details

2016 is a year where technology is everything, including the clothes and accessories you wear. It’s also a year where people are also paying more attention to health and fitness, finally taking a greater interest in what they put into their bodies and how many calories are being burned off over the day. The proliferation of data and technology makes taking care of yourself easier than ever. Often small and lightweight, they’re no more noticeable than a watch and can result in a variety of health benefits.

When choosing a fitness tracker, pay attention to the hardware, design and comfort. You need to be able to wear the tracker all day long, without it interfering with any daily activities. Battery life could be an issue with some of the more advanced devices – performing some functions drains a battery more quickly. Some trackers will also work with stock apps on your phone, while others may be tailored to another brand. These and more are all things to look for when selecting the perfect fitness tracker for you and your life. Here are a the best fitness trackers of 2016 to get you in shape.

Best Fitness Tracker for Runners: Garmin Forerunner 235

Garmin’s been in the wearable GPS game longer than most of the competition, so it is no surprise they have a product that’s ended up on 2016’s hot list. Designed with runners in mind, the Forerunner 235 has everything both serious and casual runners alike might want. First, it comes with the latest and greatest GPS technology to accurately track and measure both pace and distance while running. An optical heart-rate monitor and internal pedometer help to track steps and calories over the course of the day as accurately as possible. There is even a feature to estimate your VO2 max.

Another great feature is that the watch’s waterproof case, which allows the user to keep it on while showering or swimming – this watch will miss literally none of the activities you perform over the course of the day. The 235 also boasts a sleeker and more comfortable design than previous models.

Garmin’s product has the ability to connect with Connect IQ, Garmin’s fitness app. Unfortunately, the navigation isn’t as smooth as on other apps like Apple Health. But the learning curve is due in part to the wide variety of features this fitness tracker is equipped with.

Best Minimalist Fitness Tracker: Jawbone UP2

If you’re after something a little more modest in appearance that still feels great to wear all day long and gets the job done, than look no further than the Jawbone Up2. Jawbone has vastly improved on its old model. Now more comfortable, less likely to fall off, and with a new firmware update, Jawbone is the best minimalist fitness tracker available.

Its lightweight and modern style make it stand out from every other fitness tracker in looks alone. More like a bracelet than an advanced piece of technology on your wrist, it’s much sleeker and less noticeable than the competition. Nevertheless, the small inconspicuous size doesn’t detract from quality, as the Up2 is durable and is designed with a sturdy clasp that can take a beating.

The Up2 is compatible with Android 4.3 (and later), iPhone 4S (and later), iPad 3 (and later), iPad Mini and iPad Air. It synchronizes wirelessly and offers up to 10 days of battery life between charges.

This device utilizes Jawbone’s UP app, one of the easiest to navigate and highest rated apps on the market. The app can even connect to a large selection of third-party apps like MyFitnessPal, Strava, RunKeeper and more. There’s even a leader board feature to compete with friends and family.

Best Designed Fitness Tracker: Fitbit Charge HR

Fitbit is perhaps the most famous fitness tracker out there. The Charge HR is quite a basic design, but that’s the unobtrusive look and style many people strive for today. It’s simple, and it works beautifully. It’s small enough to go unnoticed when you work out. Its OLED screen is bright and sharp.

Today’s Fitbit models, such as the Charge, feature many improvements from older Fitbits, such as a selection of wristband colors that come with the watch. This makes the Fitbit the most customizable brand of fitness tracker.

Some unique features include the automatic sleep monitor, which records how long and how well you’ve slept each day, and a display that’ll show you who is calling on your phone when its connected. Synchronizing is performed wirelessly with your smart phone or computer.

The Fitbit Charge HR performs great in all aspects. It boasts a sleek design that is quite modern, the battery life is comparable to every other leading fitness tracker out there, needs minimal charging and the software is frequently updated so there’s little chance of any bugs ruining your product.

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The Top Rated Nautical GPS Units

Justin Thomas — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 16:31:13 +0000

Garmin GPSMAP 78sc ($487)

Pros:

Great display and user interface
Floats on water
Portable

Cons:

Small screen not the best for permanent installations

Top Review Sources:

GPS Tracklog: “Highly recommended; probably the best marine handheld series currently made by Garmin”
Marine Electronics Reviews: “One of the most sophisticated marine handheld GPS units on the market today”
Amazon: 4.5/5.0 (5+ reviews)

The Garmin GPSMAP 78sc is a handheld GPS built for use in boating and watersports. The 78sc measures 6.0” H x 2.6” W x 1.2” D and weighs less than eight ounces with two AA batteries installed. The display itself measures 2.6” diagonally and has a resolution of 160 x 240. It is possible to hold and operate this unit with one hand—rubber sides enhance grip security. Above the screen, you’ll find eight buttons plus a directional pad, all of which control functions via a responsive and well-organized on-screen menu system. The 65K color TFT display is sharp and detailed, exhibiting no problems with washout in the sunlight. The 1.7 GB internal memory of the 78sc is preloaded with coastal charts, and the microSD slot enables you to add more maps or custom data via an external card. The microSD slot, mini USB port, serial port, and external antenna jack are all protected by a rubber cover on the back of the device. When the cover is in place, the 78sc is waterproof (and floats). If you’d like to permanently mount your 78sc, there is an optional mount and power cord available. Running on batteries, the 78sc will operate for approximately 20 hours. The 78sc is also equipped with an electronic compass and barometric altimeter. This unit comes with a one-year warranty.

The Garmin GPSMAP 78sc ($487) is for sale on Amazon. Also available is the GPSMAP 78 ($297), which is not preloaded with maps and does not have an electronic compass and barometric altimeter, and the GPSMAP 78s ($386), which also lacks the maps but has an electronic compass and barometric altimeter.

Humminbird 788ci HD Combo ($606)

Pros:

High-resolution screen
Very accurate GPS
Excellent sonar

Cons:

Some image details are very small

Top Review Sources:

Cabela’s: 4.5/5.0 (10+ reviews)
Bass Pro Shops: 4.4/5.0 (10+ reviews)
Marine Electronics Reviews: “A desirable chartplotter fishfinder combo for any boater looking to upgrade their marine electronics gear”

The Humminbird 788ci HD Combo unites GPS capability with state-of-the-art sonar in a highly-regarded navigation/fishfinding device. The 788ci HD Combo has a 640 x 640, 256-color TFT screen that measures five inches diagonally. Its high resolution permits a high level of detail, though very small details can be hard to read. Viewing angles are wide, reflectivity and glare are low, and the display remains legible in direct sunlight. The unit itself has dimensions of 6.9” W x 7.5” H x 4.5” D and can be mounted either in-dash or on its included quick-disconnect stand. Its internal GPS receives praise for its impressive accuracy and tight integration with its sonar functions. Its sounding capability is similarly impressive, with 500 watts of power, multimode results display, and dual beams. The supplied transducer can be transom-mounted or mounted inside the hull. You can supplement the 788ci HD Combo’s internal memory via its two external memory card slots. This unit carries a one-year warranty.

Purchase the Humminbird 788ci HD Combo ($606) on Amazon. You’ll also find the 788ci HD DI Combo ($740), which has down imaging capability.

Lowrance HDS-7 ($999)

Pros:

Large, sharp screen
Very precise GPS
Easy-to-navigate interface

Cons:

Included maps may not meet all needs

Top Review Sources:

Marine Electronics Reviews: “Excellent for daylight viewability”
Bass Pro Shops: 3.8/5.0 (15+ reviews)
Cabela’s: 4.0/5.0 (2 reviews)

The Lowrance HDS-7 is a chartplotter/fishfinder combo unit with a 6.4-inch, 480 x 640 display. Images are sharp and bright even in sunny conditions, and viewing angles are excellent. On-screen functions are controlled by means of the HDS-7’s eight pushbuttons and arrow pad. Processing is speedy and the response time of menus is above average. As with the other nautical GPS units reviewed here, the HDS-7 can save thousands of waypoints and hundreds of routes. Memory capacity is expandable via the external SD card slot. The HDS-7’s 16-channel internal GPS antenna is a strong performer, locking on to signals quickly and exhibiting outstanding accuracy. The HDS-7 will also accept an external GPS antenna if you have a closed cabin. There are a variety of mapping cards available to supplement the included Expanded U.S. or Insight USA internal maps. The fishfinder works well with the included transom-mount, skimmer transducer and is able to sound 5,000 feet. The HDS-7 measures 8.8” W x 6.4” H x 3.5” D, comes with mounting hardware, and carries a two-year warranty.

The Lowrance HDS-7 with Expanded U.S. BaseMap and transducer ($999) is for sale on Amazon. You can also purchase the HDS-7 without the transducer ($949).

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